in a rather unguarded fashion, they joined in the attack on the Romans.  At the same instant the slaves (to whom the barbarians had proclaimed freedom) took a hand in the work.  They would have crushed their adversaries, had not Mithridates while occupied with the enemy—­although over seventy years old he was in the battle—­been hit with a stone.  This caused the barbarians to fear that he might die; and while they halted battle on this account, Fabius and the others were able to escape to safety.[-10-] The Roman general was subsequently shut up and besieged in Cabira, but was rescued by Triarius.  The latter was in that vicinity on his way from Asia to Lucullus.  Having learned what had happened he collected as large a force as was possible with the resources at hand and in his advance so alarmed Mithridates (probably by the size of the Roman detachment) as to make him withdraw before Triarius came in view.  At this the Romans took courage, and pursuing the enemy as far as Comana, whither he had retired, won a victory over him.  Mithridates was in camp on the opposite side of the river from the point where the Romans approached, and was anxious to join battle while they were worn out from the march.  Accordingly he himself met them first, and directed that at the crisis of the battle others should cross from another direction, by a bridge, to take part in the attack.  But whereas he fought an equal conflict a long time he was deprived of reinforcements by the confusion on the bridge across which many were pushing at one time, crowded all, together.

[-11-] Thereafter they both retreated to their own fortifications and rested, for it was now winter.  Comana belongs to the present territory of Cappadocia and was reported to have preserved right through to that time the Tauric statue of Artemis and the race of Agamemnon.  As to how these reached them or how remained there I can find no certain account, since there are various stories.  But what I understand accurately I will state.  There are two cities in Cappadocia not far apart and of the same name which contend for the same honors.  Their myths and the relics they exhibit are alike, and both treasure a sword, which is supposedly the very one connected with the story of Iphigenia.

[B.C. 67 (a.u. 687)]

[-12-] To resume our narrative.  The following year, in the consulship of Manius Acilius and Gaius Piso, Mithridates encamped against Triarius near Gaziura, trying to challenge and provoke him to battle; for incidentally he himself practiced watching the Romans and trained his army to do so.  His hope was to engage and vanquish Triarius before Lucullus came up and thus get back the rest of the province.  As he could not arouse him, he sent some men to Dadasa, a garrison where the Romans’ baggage was deposited, in order that his opponent by defending it might be drawn into conflict.  And so it was.  Triarius for a time fearing the numbers of Mithridates and expecting Lucullus, whom he had sent for,[4] remained